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Backstroke
Breaststroke
Butterfly
Freestyle
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Fastest Relay Combination

Team Backstroke Breaststroke Butterfly Freestyle Total Time
Next Calculator: Swim Time Converter

How to Use the Medley Relay Calculator

Enter the names and personal best times (minutes and seconds separately) for 4–6 swimmers for each stroke in a 4x100m or 4x50m medley relay (backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle). Select the relay distance (4x100m or 4x50m). The calculator finds the fastest team combination for 4 swimmers, or up to 8 combinations for 5–6 swimmers, ensuring each swimmer performs one stroke.

Key Features

  • Supports 4–6 swimmers for flexible team selection.
  • Accepts times in separate minute (0–5) and second (0–59.99) fields for clarity.
  • Adjusts for relay start times (subtracts 0.3 seconds per exchange, 0.9s total).
  • Shows 1 combination for 4 swimmers, up to 8 for 5–6 swimmers, sorted by total time.
  • Validates inputs with real-time feedback for errors.

Example

Example (4x100m): Swimmer A: Back (1 min, 0.00 sec), Breast (1 min, 5.00 sec), Fly (0 min, 55.00 sec), Free (0 min, 50.00 sec); Swimmer B: Back (1 min, 1.00 sec), etc. Output for 4 swimmers: Charlie (Back), Dana (Breast), Alice (Fly), Bob (Free) = 3:43.10.
Optimize your relay strategy with insights from Swimming World’s Relay Strategy Guide.

Medley Relay Calculation Formulas

Understand how the calculator determines the fastest relay teams:

Total Relay Time

Total Time (s) = Backstroke Time + Breaststroke Time + Butterfly Time + Freestyle Time – Relay Start Adjustment (0.9s)

Relay start adjustment: Subtracts 0.3 seconds per exchange (0.9s total for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th swimmers).

Combination Logic

Combinations = Permutations of Swimmers (4–6) × Strokes (4), ensuring each swimmer is used once and each stroke is covered

For 4 swimmers, the fastest combination is shown. For 5–6 swimmers, up to 8 combinations are displayed, sorted by total time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the medley relay calculator optimize my swim team?
The calculator analyzes personal best times for 4–6 swimmers across backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle, generating the fastest 4x100m or 4x50m relay combination for 4 swimmers or up to 8 for 5–6 swimmers.
What is a medley relay in swimming?
A medley relay is a swimming event where four swimmers each perform a different stroke (backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle) over 100m or 50m, in that order.
How do relay start times affect the results?
The calculator subtracts 0.3 seconds per exchange (0.9s total) to account for faster relay starts, improving accuracy.
Can I use this for mixed medley relays?
Yes, it works for mixed relays (e.g., 2 men, 2 women) as long as each stroke is covered by a unique swimmer.
Why is my fastest swimmer not in the top team?
The calculator optimizes for the best team combination, so a fast swimmer may be outpaced if their stroke time doesn’t complement others.